Perfect Roast Pork Belly With Cabbage And Bacon

Perfect Roast Pork Belly With Cabbage And Bacon
  • Author: James Martin

This recipe delivers a tantalizing dish featuring succulent pork belly with a crisp, golden skin, complemented by a rich red wine sauce. Served alongside sautéed cabbage and bacon, as well as a smooth apple sauce, this meal is a symphony of flavors and textures that will leave your tastebuds dancing.

— Constant Cookbook

Ingredients

  • 2kg/4lb 4oz boneless pork belly
  • 1 onion
  • 1 carrot
  • 1 celery
  • 4 sprigs flatleaf parsley
  • 2 sprigs thyme
  • 3 star anise
  • 1 cinnamon
  • 110g/4oz butter
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 110ml/4fl oz red wine
  • 250ml/9fl oz beef stock
  • salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 50g/2oz butter
  • 4 slices smoked streaky bacon
  • 1 green cabbage
  • 150g/5oz Brussels sprouts
  • 75ml/3fl oz water
  • 2 tbsp chopped fresh chervil
  • 25g/1oz butter
  • 1 large Bramley apple

Instructions

  • For the pork belly, place the pork belly, onion, carrot, celery, parsley, thyme, star anise and cinnamon sticks into a large saucepan. Cover with cold water until the pork is just covered.
  • Bring the mixture to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for two hours.
  • Remove the pork belly from the mixture and place between two heavy baking trays. Chill in the fridge for at least two hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 225C/450F/Gas 8.
  • Remove the pork from the fridge and cut into four squares.
  • Heat an ovenproof frying pan until hot, add half of the butter and the pork belly pieces, skin-side down. Fry for 2-3 minutes.
  • Carefully turn the pork belly pieces over and pour over the honey. Roast the pork belly in the oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the pork skin is crisp.
  • Meanwhile, bring the red wine and beef stock to the boil in a saucepan and cook until the volume of the liquid has reduced by half. Whisk in the remaining butter and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • Meanwhile for the sautéed cabbage and bacon, heat the butter in a frying pan until foaming and fry the bacon until crisp and golden-brown. Add the cabbage and Brussels sprouts and stir-fry for a further minute. Add the water and cook for a further 4-5 minutes, or until the cabbage is just tender.
  • Stir in the chervil and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
  • For the apple sauce, heat the butter and Bramley apples in a lidded saucepan over a gentle heat. Cover and cook for 2-4 minutes, or until the apples have collapsed and are soft and fluffy. Stir the mixture to form a smooth purée.
  • To serve, spoon the sautéed cabbage onto serving plates and top with a piece of pork belly.
  • Spoon over the red wine sauce and serve the apple sauce alongside.

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Prep Time

PT30M

Yield

Serves 4